SAN DIEGO COUNTY PERSPECTIVE : In Search of the Stealth Senator

Where was Wadie? That’s the question 40th District voters should be asking themselves about state Sen. Deddeh’s attendance record during the past legislative session--and the final, crucial week in particular.

A computer analysis shows that Deddeh (D-Bonita) missed 43% of the Senate’s votes, an absentee rate surpassed only by a Los Angeles senator hospitalized for alcoholism and a heart problem.

Particularly disturbing, however, was Deddeh’s decision to miss the last, hectic week of the session, when landmark oil-spill legislation was passed, $3.6 billion in bonds were put on the November ballot and a bill requiring earthquake insurance for state homeowners was finalized. Deddeh spent the week at home, entertaining relatives in the days before his only son’s wedding.

Then he compounded that misjudgment with this remark to a Times reporter: “The bills that were before us--nothing was crucial, nothing was important,” Deddeh said. “As far as I was concerned, if those bills were not passed at all, the state would probably be better off for it.”

Deddeh is dead wrong in that assessment. His statement that he was ready to fly to Sacramento on a moment’s notice, if needed to break a deadlock, is proof. Moreover, South Bay and San Diego voters didn’t elect the 24-year incumbent to stay home as the Legislature cast more than 800 end-of-session votes. He should have been in Sacramento attending to statewide and local issues.

The computer tally of Deddeh’s votes somewhat exaggerates his absences. For example, it makes no allowances for conflicting committee meetings that force legislators to miss some votes. But Deddeh’s 43% absence rate is almost three times the Senate average.

Most of his colleagues in the San Diego delegation achieved considerably better attendance records.

As Deddeh goes through a reelection campaign this fall, he should explain his actions to constituents casting their votes this November.